Record tray



Dec. 23, 1930. R. R. WEST 1,786,411

RECORD TRAY Filed Jan. 25, 28

Q i F -IL- IIIVENTUH Ross R. was) paw-2% M nnmuzrs Patented Dec. 23, 1930" PATENT OFFICE ROSS R WEST, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA aEooRn TRAY Application filed. January 23, 1928. Serial 110,248,712.

This invention relates generally to devices for retaining olfice records.

Record filing trays or cabinets generally employ a movable follower for supporting the records in raised position. In some instances thefollower may be traversed or moved back and forth by means of a threaded rod or other suitable-mechanism operable from the front of the tray. In addition to such traversing mechanism it is desirable to be able to shift the position of the follower independently of the traversing mechanism. As disclosed in Patent No. 1,666,700 issued to Cecil B. Harrison, on April 17 1928, and entitled Record tray, this is accomplished by a tiltable follower by means of which a member may be moved into or out of engagement with the threaded rod.

It is an object of this invention to devise a 2 novel means for engaging or disengaging the follower of a record tray with respect toits traversing mechanism.

It is a furtherobject of this invention to devise a record tray in which a member is pivotally mounted upon the follower so as to be manually movable to disengage the follow er from its traversing mechanism.

A further object of this invention will ap- 7 pear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that the invention is to be accorded a range of mechanical equivalents consistent with thestate of the prior art. 7 Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1. h v Fig. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view showing one end portion of the bottom of the tray. Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing the construction of the abutment at the forward end of the tray. 2

The invention comprises generally a record tray having a follower movable back and forth along the tray by rotation of a threaded rod. Certain features of this invention are T disclosed but not claimed in my Patent 1,721,- 240, July 16, 1929. Pivotally mounted upon the follower there is a member manually movable to disengage the follower from the rotatable rod, this member having one end extending adjacent the upper edge of the follower,

so that it may be readily manually manipu lated. As an incidental feature of the invention, the front portion of the tray may be formed; with an abutment for facilitating inspection of records.

Thus referring to the drawing, there is shown a tray 10 provided with a bottom wall 11 for supporting records. The tray may be constructed of any suitable material although for durability and strength I prefer to employ pressedsheet-metal. Extending longitudinallyof the bottom wall 11 there is a box like trough 12 within which is disposed a threaded rod 13 which may be manually rotated by suitable means such as a crank 14. For mounting the rod 13, its forward end may be journaled in the front wall 15 of the tray, while its rear end is preferably provided with a bearing which will permit removal of the rod when desired. Thusthe rear end of the trough 1-2 is enclosed by a suitable bracket 16 which is apertured to re ceive the end ofthe threaded rod. 1 Detachably secured to bracket 16 there is a retainer 17 having forked portions 18 adapted to engage a groove 19 in the threaded rod 13.

By removal of the retainer 17'the threaded rod 13 may be slid longitudinally through i a the front Wall ofthe tray.

Mounted within'the tray there is a follower 21 which is adapted to engagevand be traversed by the threadedrod 13. This follower isshown as made of a pressed metal plate although it may be of wood or other suitable material. For guiding this follower f" within the tray there is provided a sleeve 22 slidably disposed upon the rod 13, and to which the follower 21 is secured. Pivotally mounted upon the rear side of the follower there is a locking member 23 manually mov-' able for permitting the follower to be shifted independently of the rod 13. The pivotal mounting for'this member 23 may comprise integral struck-out tabs 24 upon the follower lUU and integral flanges 26 upon the mem- '23. Pivot lugs 27 are extended from tabs '1 into holes in flanges 26 to provide for novement of the member 23. A. member 28 raving its lower end extending so as to be engageable between the threads of the rod 13 is provided on the locking member 23. Upon movement of member 23 away from follower 21, member 28 is moved into engagement with the threads of rod 13 while movement of member 23 in the opposite direction serves to disengage member 28 from rod 13. In order to bias member 28 in a direction to normally retain it in engaging position the member 23 is provided with a struck-out resilient spring portion 29 which normally presses against follower 21. The upper end of member 23 is preferably provided with a widened finger-iold portion 31 which is adjacent the upper edge of follower 21.

in operating the device the follower is moved to any desired position by manual turning of the crank 14. The follower may also be shifted manually independently of the traversing mechanism by grasping the upper edge of the follower and engaging the fingerhold portion 31 to move member 28 out of engagement with the threaded rod 13. The traversing mechanism, while it is relatively slow in operation, malres possible the combined advantages of a tray in which the fol lower may be tightly clamped against the records and one in which the follower maybe quickly shifted to any desired. position. If desired when making alterations in or in in specting the records after they have been tightly clamped together by the clamping mechanism, an operator may merely move member 23 forwardly toward the follower and permit the force of the records to move the follower rearwardly independently of the threaded rod. When the necessary inspection or alteration has been made the crank 15 may be rotated to again move the follower to clamping position.

It is obvious that a wide variety of structural modifications and details may be employed within the scope of this invention. As an added feature which may be incorporated with the tray, there is shown a construction which makes the records more readily accessible for inspection. Thus against the front portion 15 of the tray there is positioned an abutment 33 having a lower rearwardly inclined wall 34 and an upper forwardly inclined wall 36. An aperture 37 in the wall 36 facilitates removal of the abutment. As shown in the detail of Fig. 5 the wall 34 serves to press against the lower edges of the records while they are being bent forwardly over the inclined upper wall 36 for inspection. To minimize friction between the follower 21 and the bottom of the tray, the lower edges of the follower are shown as provided with pressed-out projections 38 to provide bearing surfaces. When an operator has finshed with the records they may be clamped against the follower by means of a plate 39 which the operator may position adjacent the wall 34. For retaining this plate in position its lower edge has been shown as provided with projecting portions 40 adapt ed to extend through slots 41 in the bottom wall 11. VJhile the records are being inspected, plate 39 may be removd from its position in front of the records and positioned at the rear end of the tray as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The rear portion of the bottom wall 11 may be provided with other slots 42, as is shown in Fig. 4, for receiving the projecting portions 40.

In record trays of this kind it is frequently desirable to positively retain certain of the records or index cards permanently within the tray although permitting their free longitndinal. movement. For this purpose the trough 12 is preferably offset from the center of the tray and arranged within this trough there is a removable rod 43 disposed parallel to the rotatable rod 13 as in previously mentioned Patent 1,721,240. The index cards or other records which it is desired to retain within the tray are provided with depending tabs apertnred to receive rod 43.

t is obvious that the member which has been referred to above as a tray may be incorporated as a part of a filing cabinet. When employed as a separate tray it may be provided with a shoulder 44 about its upper edge for positioning a suitable cover.

i; claim:

1. A device of the class described, a tray for receiving records, a follower within the tray, a threaded rod mounted on the tray for traversing the follower, and another rod rcmovably mounted on the tray for retaining record cards within the same.

2. A device of the class described, a tray for receiving records, a follower within the tray, a threaded rod extended centrally of the tray for traversing the follower, and another rod removably mounted on the tray parallel to said threaded rod for retaining record cards within the same.

3. A device of the class described comprising a tray for receiving records, a follower within said tray, and means adapted for moving the same along the tray, said means including a member pivotally mounted upon the follower and operable for disengaging the follower from the remainder of said moving means for movement of the follower independently of said remaining means.

4. A device of the class described compris ing a tray for receiving records, a follower within said tray, and means adapted for moving the same along the tray, said means including a member pivotally mounted upon the rear side of the follower and operable for disengaging the follower from the remainder of said moving means for movement of the follower independently of said remaining means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a tray for receiving records, a follower within said tray, and means adapted for moving the same along the tray, said means including a member adapted to be manuallyv engaged, means for connecting said member to said follower for manual movement of said member toward the follower, means for normally urging said member away from the follower, and means operable upon movement of said member toward the follower for disengaging the follower from the remainder of said moving means thereby permitting movement of the follower independently of said remaining means.

6. A device of the class described comprising a tray for receiving records, a follower within said tray, and means adapted for moving the same along the tray including a rotatable threaded rod journaled to said tray and a member pivotally mounted upon the follower to engage the threads of the rod and operable for disengagement from said threaded rod thereby permitting movement of the follower independently of said rod.

7. A device of the class described compris- In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand.

ROSS R. WEST.

ing a tray for receiving records, a follower I Within said tray, and means adapted for moving the same along the tray, said means including a rotatable threaded rod journaled to said tray, and a member pivotally mounted upon the rear side of the follower to engage the thread of the rod and operable for disengagement from said threaded rod thereby permitting movement of the follower independently of said rod. v

8. A. device of the class described comprising a traylfor receiving records, a follower within said tray, and normally disposed in an upwardly extending position, a threaded rod rotatably mounted onsaid tray and eX- tending longitudinally of the same, means for mounting said follower for sliding movement longitudinally of the tray, a member adapted to engage the threads of the rod, means for pivotally securing said member to said follower, and a manually movable member associated with said last-named means extending upwardly behind the follower, said last-named member when moved relative to the follower serving to disengage said first member from said rod thereby permitting free sliding movements of the follower independently ofrotation of the rod.

9. A device of the class described comprising a tray for receiving records, a follower within said tray and normally disposed in an upwardly extending position, a threaded rod rotatably mounted on said tray and extending longitudinally of the same, means for mounting said follower for sliding movement longitudinally of the tray, a member 

